ASIAL Security Insider

Ep 153 - Why Most Training Fails Under Extreme Pressure

ASIAL Security Insider

Show Notes

Incidents like the Bondi and Westfield attacks demonstrate that extreme violence can happen anytime, anywhere, without warning. And in most cases, security personnel will be the first to respond.

In this episode of the Security Insider podcast, we speak with Tony Blauer—CEO of Blauer Tactical Systems and founder of the SPEAR System—about “amygdala hijack”: the survival-driven takeover that can bypass cognition and degrade complex performance in fractions of a second. We unpack the startle–flinch response, why “technical” training often doesn’t transfer to real incidents, and how scenario-based training can be engineered to shorten reaction time and improve decision-making under extreme stress.

If you run a security business and want training that holds up when it matters—this is the blueprint.

For more podcasts like this one visit www.asial.com.au

More from ASIAL Security Insider

Oct 23, 2026

A new and disturbing form of violent extremism is spreading across online communities, and unlike traditional extremist movements, it isn't necessarily driven by politics, religion or ideology. Instead, it's fuelled by manipulation, psychological exploitation, cruelty and the pursuit of notoriety.

Oct 2, 2026

Cybersecurity professionals spend enormous amounts of time and money building sophisticated systems designed to keep attackers out. But attackers do not always need to defeat the technology. Sometimes, they simply need to convince a person to open the door.

Sep 11, 2026

In Part One, we explored the key findings from ASIAL’s landmark Security 2030 report, discussing regulatory reform, procurement challenges, industry visibility and the structural issues that must be addressed if the sector is to meet the demands of the future.

Sep 7, 2026

Australia’s private security industry is entering a period of significant change. New technologies, evolving threats, workforce challenges, regulatory reform and increasing expectations around professionalisation are reshaping what security will look like over the next five years.

Jul 24, 2026

Australia’s critical infrastructure operators are entering a new phase of security and risk management. With enhanced obligations under the Security of Critical Infrastructure (SOCI) Act, rapidly advancing artificial intelligence, and growing supply chain vulnerabilities, organisations must rethink how they identify, manage, and respond to emerging threats.

See all episodes →